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Putting Education to Work

We have been listening to our communities throughout Coconino County and the message is clear: We need education and training that leads to jobs and helps improve lives and communities. We are proud of the “Community” in the name of our College, and the mission that goes along with being part of the community. Our mission, in addition to providing a variety of educational opportunities, includes providing certification training in relevant industries based on community needs and focuses on lifelong learning for all ages.

By partnering with business and industry to develop programs that meet training needs, we are emphasizing the CCC2Work program along with the College’s highly successful HS2CCC (High School to CCC), CCC2NAU and other university transition programs.

CCC2Work

The Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) program in Flagstaff provides students immediate entry to the workforce through the earning of national certifications. Students who complete the programs have landed jobs at local apartment complexes, office buildings, hotels and more. This summer, we added a mobile CAMT component to the program and offered the training to students in Page. Plans are in the works to expand the mobile program to other communities in the county.

In May, several CCC students completed the Fundamental Payroll Certification or Certified Payroll Professional program. These credentials of FPP or CPP give students marketable skills that help them advance in their careers.

In the spring semester, CCC was one of the first colleges in the nation to start training students in the new 2018 International Residential Code issued by the International Code Council. The Code is universally accepted as the industry standard, and CCC is responding to the need for trained Building Inspectors in the Construction Industry, which will be losing much of its workforce to retirements.

Starting this fall, CCC will be offering an updated Computer Information Systems degree and certificates that align with new industry standards for the Computing Technology Industry Association, or CompTIA (see related story). The College will be offering new classes and curriculum, which will allow our students to remain competitive in a rapidly changing field.

CCC2Community

The College is offering a series of one-hour educational talks, or ED Talks, meant to engage community members and help them learn more on a variety of issues, such as the history of computers, outlaws of the Old West, how to manage your compost, mushrooms of Northern Arizona and more. CCC has been offering summer art workshops for community members and the PetraCorps science discovery program for educators. Finally, CCC has been featuring a number of camps and activities to engage and inspire middle school-aged students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

We want you to know that everyone at CCC is listening and we are working to be nimble and respond to the requests of our communities within the limited constraints of our budget. We are excited to share everything that is happening at the College. We hope to see you on our campuses or at one of the many wonderful events in the communities we serve. Onward! FBN

By Colleen A. Smith, Ph.D.

Colleen A. Smith, Ph. D., is the president of Coconino Community College.

Traveling almost 8,000 miles to fill his new position as food and beverage director for Xanterra at the Grand Canyon South Rim Lodges was an “easy” decision, says Todd Rodemyer, who left Kabul, Afghanistan, for the Grand Canyon. “It was the best move I’ve made yet. I really like it here.” While in Kabul, Rodemyer worked as a government contractor for the U.S. Embassy, managing the food service for the entire state department operation, which includes six dining facilities and catering from the ground up. “It was an amazing experience and I had a great relationship with the ambassador and state department commanders.” Although he was in a war zone, he says he always felt safe at the compound in Kabul, because it was guarded by Gurkha Guard Force. “They are some of the greatest and most dedicated soldiers I’ve ever been around.” He adds that it was intense at times.

Having lived in Flagstaff for more than 40 years, I know there are some things you can count on as spring comes to the high country: wind, weather that changes in the blink of an eye, the return of the elk and deer along the highways and freezing at Little League games (did I mention the wind?